Did you find yourself stumped by this weekend's brain-teasers? The latest Saturday quiz presented a formidable challenge, spanning topics from celestial pop stars to the intricate world of Olympic sports history. If you were left guessing, fear not—we have all the solutions laid out for you.
From Space to the Swimming Pool
The quiz kicked off with a poignant historical question, asking for the identity of the person whose last words in 1963 were, “Nobody’s gonna shoot at me.” The answer, a figure etched in modern history, was Lee Harvey Oswald.
Another query probed the world of symbols, asking which one originated as a ligature of the letters 'e' and 't'. This refers to the ubiquitous ampersand (&), which finds its roots in the Latin word 'et'.
Shifting to ancient wonders, the quiz asked for the largest artificial prehistoric mound in Europe. This title belongs to Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, a monumental feat of Neolithic engineering. In the animal kingdom, the only non-primate known to have fingerprints is the adorable koala.
In a blend of pop culture and science, the question “Which pop star went into space in April?” was answered by none other than Katy Perry. Meanwhile, the old Hotel Moskva, a recognisable landmark, appears on bottles of the famous Stolichnaya vodka.
Legal Milestones and Olympic Prowess
A significant social and legal question focused on Ireland, asking in what decade divorce was legalised. This landmark change occurred in the 1990s, marking a pivotal shift in Irish society.
For sports enthusiasts, a particularly intriguing question was: “Which landlocked country is the fourth most successful in Olympic swimming?” The answer highlights the impressive achievements of Hungary, a nation with a storied history in the pool despite its geographic constraints.
Connecting the Dots
The 'What Links' section always provides a satisfying puzzle. This week, the names Harry Bailey; Joss Merlyn; Abbey Potterson; Mistress Quickly; the Thénardiers were all revealed to be fictional innkeepers from classic literature, including works by Chaucer and Shakespeare.
The sequence “Spanish, 1701-14; Austrian, 1740-48; Roy family, 2018-23” was cleverly linked by the theme of Succession, referencing both historical wars and the popular television series.
Other connections included categories of asteroids (Main belt; trojans; near-Earth) and countries whose national flags feature birds other than eagles: Dominica; Guatemala; Kiribati; Papua New Guinea; Uganda.
The clues “45th state; largest city in Nebraska; Au; queen of the Roman gods; Excalibur” were all code names for the D-day beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
The world of online media was represented by the most-subscribed YouTube channels: SET India; Cocomelon; T-Series; MrBeast. Finally, the seemingly cryptic “Basket V; hand and net VII; base IX; foot XI” referred to the number of players on a team in various ball sports, with the Roman numeral indicating the team size.
Whether you aced it or learned something new, this week's quiz was a thrilling tour through history, science, and culture. How many did you get right?
